Miss America 1954

Last updated

Miss America 1954
DateSeptember 12, 1953
Venue Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants52
Placements10
Winner Evelyn Margaret Ay
Pennsylvania
CongenialityPatricia Ann Condon (New Jersey)
  1953
1955  

Miss America 1954, the 27th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 12, 1953. Though four women from Pennsylvania had previously held the title (1924, 1935, 1936, 1940), Evelyn Margaret Ay was the first Miss Pennsylvania to be crowned Miss America, as the others represented cities. [1] [2]

Contents

Actress and princess-to-be Grace Kelly was one of the year's judges.

A Top 10 finisher in the pageant, Miriam Stevenson, subsequently won the 1954 Miss USA pageant, representing South Carolina. She then proceeded to be crowned Miss Universe 1954.

Similarly, Carlene King Johnson, unsuccessful as Miss Vermont in the 1954 Miss America pageant, became Miss USA 1955.

Results

Miss America 1953 swimsuit competition.jpg
Contestants of the Miss America 1954 swimsuit competition, held during September 1953

Placements

PlacementContestant
Miss America 1954
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 10

Awards

Preliminary awards

AwardsContestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Other awards

AwardsContestant
Miss Congeniality
Non-finalist Talent

Contestants

StateNameHometownAgeTalentPlacementAwardsNotes
Flag of Alabama.svg Alabama Virginia McDavid Birmingham 18Monologue, "Tara" from Gone with the Wind 3rd runner-up
Flag of Arizona.svg Arizona Betty Lou Lindly Tempe Piano
Flag of Arkansas.svg Arkansas Helen Reed Fayetteville Tap Dance
Flag of California.svg California Patricia Johns Fresno Dramatic Monologue from The Country Girl Top 10Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Kathleen "Kathy" Ann Archibald Kelowna
Flag of Chicago, Illinois.svg Chicago Carol Segermark Chicago Vocal
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado Mary Donclan Keenesburg Dramatic Monologue from Of Mice and Men
Flag of Connecticut.svg Connecticut Sally Middleton Hartford Dance
Flag of Delaware.svg Delaware Lois Anne Alava Wilmington Piano, "Concerto in A Minor"Top 10Preliminary Talent Award
Flag of Washington, D.C.svg District of Columbia Helen Smith Washington, D.C. 19Dance
Flag of Florida.svg Florida Marjorie Simmons Tampa Dance, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia Lucia Hutchinson Macon 22Operatic Vocal, "Mon cœur s'oure à ta voix" & "Love is Where You Find it"
Flag of Hawaii.svg Hawaii Dorothy Leilani Ellis Lihue Hula
Flag of Idaho.svg Idaho Jane Bostic New Plymouth Vocal, "All the Things You Are"
Flag of Illinois.svg Illinois Jacquie Dumbauld Alton Piano/Dance
Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana Violet Wratich East Chicago Vocal
Flag of Iowa.svg Iowa Constance VerHoef Sheldon 18Vocal
Flag of Kansas.svg Kansas Joanne Milnar Hutchinson 23Water Ballet
Flag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky Emily Rucker Berea Vocal
Flag of Louisiana.svg Louisiana Sonya Lee LeBlanc Baton Rouge Dance
Flag of Maine.svg Maine Karen Diane Thorsall Portland Vocal
Flag of Maryland.svg Maryland Meta France Justice Crisfield Vocal, "Ave Maria"
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts Lois Feldman Natick Ballet
Flag of Michigan.svg Michigan Velva Irene Robbins Dowagiac Speech, "Education"
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota Idell Hulin Minneapolis Vocal
Flag of Mississippi.svg Mississippi Suzanne Dugger Picayune Vocal Medley & Dance, "Bill" & "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey"4th runner-up
Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri Laura Holmes Northwoods Dance
Flag of Nebraska.svg Nebraska Diana Louise Hann Lincoln Art
Flag of Nevada.svg Nevada Jeannine McColl Las Vegas Dance
Flag of New Hampshire.svg New Hampshire Elaine Ruggles New Castle Vocal
Flag of New Jersey.svg New Jersey Patricia Condon Maplewood VocalMiss Congeniality
Flag of New York.svg New York Jeannine Bowman Rome Drama
Flag of New York City.svg New York City Joan Kaible New York City Classical Vocal, "Qual fiamma avea nel guardo" from Pagliacci 1st runner-up
Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina Barbara Crockett Winston-Salem Vocal, "Shine"
Flag of North Dakota.svg North Dakota Marilyn Wentz Napoleon Vocal
Flag of Ohio.svg Ohio Martha Zimmerman Salem Drama/Piano
Flag of Oklahoma.svg Oklahoma Lorene Washburn Tulsa Vocal
Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon Patti Throop Portland Dramatic Reading, "Patterns"Top 10
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania Evelyn Margaret Ay Ephrata 20Poetry Recitation, "Footsteps" from Leaves from a Grass-House by Don Blanding WinnerPreliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico Nydia Power
Flag of Rhode Island.svg Rhode Island Joyce Sandberg Providence DramaLater Miss Rhode Island USA 1954
Flag of South Carolina.svg South Carolina Miriam Stevenson Winnsboro 20Tap DanceTop 10Later Miss South Carolina USA 1954, Miss USA 1954 , & Miss Universe 1954


1st Miss USA to become Miss Universe

Flag of South Dakota.svg South Dakota Delores Jerde Spearfish PianoPreliminary Talent Award


Non-finalist Talent Award

Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee Ruth Ann Barker Trenton Vocal
Flag of Texas.svg Texas Paula Lane Cleburne Fashion Design & Speech
Flag of Utah.svg Utah Ina Lavon Brown Provo Drama
Flag of Vermont.svg Vermont Carlene King Johnson Rutland DanceLater Miss Vermont USA 1955, Miss USA 1955, & semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1955
Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia Anne Lee Ceglis Norfolk Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly 2nd runner-upPreliminary Talent Award
Flag of Washington.svg Washington Geraldine Lindsey Seattle Vocal
Flag of West Virginia.svg West Virginia Patricia Stewart Pineville Vocal & Impersonations
Flag of Wisconsin.svg Wisconsin Judith Jacobsen Wauwatosa 19Vocal & Dance, "Make Believe" & "Come Back to Sorrento"
Flag of Wyoming.svg Wyoming Elaine Lois Holkenbrink Torrington Fashion DisplayTop 10Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award

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References

  1. "A Beaut Of A Victory". Toledo Blade. 1953-09-14. p. 2.
  2. Associated Press (1951-09-09). "Ephrata Beauty Reigns As Miss America". Lebanon Daily News. p. 1, 8.